Happiness – the secret to living a long life according to Newbury centenarian

A Newbury care home resident has celebrated her 100^th birthday and revealed her secret to living a long and joyful life – happiness. 

Barbara Kelly, from Care UK’s Winchcombe Place, on Maple Crescent, marked the impressive milestone on 2^nd October, and was joined by residents and team members to toast the special occasion.

 

Revealing her secret to a long and happy life, Barbara said: “I feel like I have led a very happy life.”

Enjoying the special day with a slice of birthday cake and a host of special gifts, the team went above and beyond to ensure Barbara enjoyed a celebration like no other, complete with a safe visit from family, a delicious birthday cake, and a very special card from the Queen. 

Kerry Thompson, Home Manager at Winchcombe Place, said: “Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating Barbara’s birthday, and she was particularly pleased to receive her official card from the Queen."

“Here at Winchcombe Place, we always strive to make an occasion of birthdays, and Barbara’s 100^th was no exception. We had great fun decorating her bedroom, baking her a special birthday cake and of course welcoming her family to celebrate with us!” 

Barbara was born in London in 1921. She moved to Newbury aged three, and has lived there ever since. A trained telephonist, she worked for the Ministry of Defence in Yatesbury during World War II. 

A keen traveller, Barbara frequently visited Drammen, in Norway, with her husband Tony, whom she married in 1948 – they considered the town to be their second home. Barbara also flew to Asia, where she received a medal for walking part of the Great Wall of China in her sixties. 

Winchcombe Place is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia and short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.

To find out more about Winchcombe Place, call Customer Relations Manager, Vicki Lambourne, on 0333 321 1923, or email vicki.lambourne@careuk.com.

For more general information, visit careuk.com/winchcombe-place.